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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39 |
I just started playing with this feature and I am getting some unexpected results. I have tried importing chords from some very simple midi files and the results have been chord progressions that are different than what I am trying to import. For example, I have a midi that is just simple chords A, G, D in a basic progression. My resulting chords after brining the file to biab are Em, A, Gm, C#, and the progression is nothing close to the midi file.
I think I am telling biab to use the most basic import parameters, but I am getting these results with any midi file I try. Is this result an indication that my midi files have issues, or am I missing the boat when it comes to importing them properly?
Thanks for any guidance.
Douglas
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
Doug,
It's not perfect but works pretty well. You do need to pay attention to all of the settings. It'll take a little time to get it right.
From an ex Seal Cove, Maine resident.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39 |
Thanks John. I will read through the manual again on the settings and tinker some more.
No major changes to report from Seal Cove. Quiet as usual.
Cheers, Douglas
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 463
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 463 |
Doug, I brought this up a few weeks back and John (Silvertones) has some good advice: Quote:
What really helps a lot is to do this:
1. Listen to the midi file and decide which inst. is doing the most basic chording and remember it's MIDI channel
2. Determine what channel the bass is on
3. go to File/Import chords from midi file
4. Look at all the options & set appropriately especially the box for chords & bass.
5. click "interpret Chords"
You should see a better chord sheet. Play with it awhile and you'll get good results.
Some of the simplest, most basic songs yield the worst results, while some more complicated songs with very dense notation sometimes produce surprisingly good results.
Beats me. I usually end up looking at the lead sheet and manually input the chords. More work but a good learning experience.
Percy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Percy's post is excellent on this.
Don't try to throw the whole MIDI file at the thing, find the track that has the Bass and one Rhythm instrument and Solo only those into the wizard.
The MIDI Chords are actually very accurate. So accurate that if the songfile has notes *other* than the ones in the rhythm chords, and many do, they will be added into the base chord and that will change at least the chord extention. Go with the simple.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 39 |
That clears up quite a bit. I was throwing the whole file at it and not the relevant channels that best represented the chord changes. I am still fiddling, but my results are getting better.
Thanks, Douglas
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259 |
At first I thought, how complicated can this be? So, I imported an simple one line melody and the chords were way off. I later read on the forum that you need more parts for better results. I knew that I was in over my head so I bought a book on chord progressions. I've yet to progress any further and am thanking the Lord for fake books.  Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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